Wire-stretcher



(No Model. w W. G. GROSS.

WIRE STRETCHBR.

No. 563,845. Patented July 14, 1896.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. CROSS, OF BELMONT, ALABAMA.

WlRE-STRE'lCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,845, dated July 14,1896.

Application filed April 27, 1896. Serial No. 589,297. (No model.)

To all whom, it 17mg concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. Onoss, a

, citizen of the United States, residing at Belinont, in the county ofSumter and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in IVire-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to useful improvements in wire-stretchers, theobject of which is to produce an implement which will auto maticallygrip the wire, and in the provision of means whereby the intensity ofthe gripping action is proportional to the strain on the wire.

A further object of the invention is the production of a wire-stretcherin which the wire may be readily applied and released from the jawsthereof, and, furthermore, in so forming said jaws that the wire may beapplied at any point within its length.

A further object of the invention is to produce an implement of theabove-referred-to class which will possess advantages in points ofeiiiciency, simplicity, and durability, making it at the same timecomparatively inexpensive to produce.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel details of construction, as well as the arrangement andcombination of parts, to be hereinafter more fully set forth, andspecifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,wherein likecharacters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views,in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation looking at the side of myimproved grip and lever. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at the topthereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 00 a: of Fig. l,and Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of the gripping-head.

In the drawings, 1 denotes a bar or lever which is provided with aseries of apertures adapted to receive pins whereby the grippinghead 3may be secured in place or adjusted within certain limits to vary theleverage.

The end of the lever is provided with a fixed extension 4 to engage thepost or other fixed object when pressure is brought to bear on the wire.It may also be used as a nail or staple puller, in which capacity acombinationtool may be provided. I

The gripping member of the implement consists of the head 3, which ishere illustrated 'as circular, but it will be understood it may be ofany other shape to conform to the contour of the bar or lever to whichit may be applied. Formed integral with the head is a jaw 5, having acurved lower edge, which is beveled, and, in conjunction with the edge(5 of the lower jaw, forms a tapering way to receive the wire. It willbe seen that by such a form wires of varying sizes may be operated upon,and that the increased pressure will produce increased contact betweenthe wire and the jaws.

The lower jaw '7 consists of a ridge formed with the head, the upperedge of the jaw being beveled at 6 for the purpose heretofore explained.

The construction, operation, and advantages will, it is thought, beapparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with theillustration, in view of which it is noted that various changes may bemade in the proportions and other details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a wire-stretcher, a lever and in combination, a head, a lower jawconsisting of a ridge formed with the head, having a beveled edge, anupper jaw extending upward and parallel with the lower jaw, with itslower edge curved and beveled, as and for the purpose described. I

2. A wire-stretcher consisting of a grip formed of a head, a ridgehaving a beveled edge comprising the lower jaw, an upper jaw formedparallel with the lower jaw, and having its lower edge curved andbeveled to produce a tapering way to receive the wire, and incombination a lever and means for varying the leverage, as and for thepurpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. CROSS,

Witnesses 2 J. B. TAYLOR, Gno. W. TAYLOR.

